Born in Cadgwith, Cornwall, Tiddy, the older of two footballing brothers joined Torquay United at the end of World War II but was forced to wait two years to play for the club while he finished his National Service.

Tiddy made his debut against Sunderland on 24 September 1955 but most of his time in London was spent in the treatment room as he suffered from numerous injuries, which forced him to undergo a cartilage operation.

By the time he was fully fit, in 1957-58, he had to share the left wing position with Joe Haverty and Gordon Nutt, only playing 12 matches.

Having played fifty-two games and scoring eight goals for Arsenal in three seasons, he was allowed to join Brighton & Hove Albion in October 1958.

Following his retirement, Tiddy returned to live in Cornwall with his wife Christine, becoming a sub-postmaster and later a local preacher on The Lizard peninsula.